Solange Pens Letter to Her Teen Self

After winning Artist the Year at the Webbys, the “Cranes in the Sky” songstress penned a moving letter to her teenage self Teen Vogue.

Exploring fears and triumphs throughout her journey, Solange opened up about the different stages in her life, including the “dance-is-life phase” and the “Nas-aficionado-brown-lip-liner-and-Vaseline-phase.”

Beyond the name calling that she experienced and sadly continues to experience, Solange also discussed her love words and her love her mother, Tina Lawson.

“she is a wonder,” wrote Solange. “you watch her drop f 3 kids at 3 different schools in the morning, pick them up in the afternoon, shuffle each them to their designated activities, and bring them all back to the salon she owns until she closes up with the utmost grace, love, and kindness. you realize watching a woman balance being a supportive mother, building a successful business from the ground up that was started in her garage, and giving back to the community will make you feel invincible.”

The letter also explored the “hardest year” her life and the birth her son, Julez. “seventeen will be the hardest year your life,” she added. “it will grow you up almost immediately. you will lose your best friend whom you love so much to gun violence in a single moment, and give birth to a new one within a year.”

To cap things f, the Seat at the Table songstress opened up about overcoming hardships and continuing to evolve. “there will be pain, there will be doubt there will be beauty, there will be the unknown,” she wrote. “there will be so many moments joy and delight that the whole universe will feel painted in hues amber and wonder. there will be times you are so sad you can’t lift your head. and there will be times you are so happy that the sensation life knocks you down. but most importantly, there will be you. a whole, whole lot it. and you will feel good about who she is and who she is still becoming.”

After the article went to print, Solange shared a few words for younger artists. “This week I am genuinely thankful for @TeenVogue and @RBMA for amplifying my authentic voice and vision,” she wrote. “To my young fellow artist, especially women artist color. Inclusion is cool…but will u realllly let us come into these spaces & CREATE. We aren’t thanking anyone for ‘allowing us’ into these spaces…until we are truly given the access to tear the got damn walls down. I’m so appreciative to everyone this past year who was encouraged and allowed me to do that & thankful to all that have left the blueprint.”